Airplane construction



F. J. PLYM.

AIRPLANE CONSTRUCTION.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 19. 1917.

Patented Aug. 3, 1920.

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AIRPLANE CONSTRUCTION.

APPLICATION HLED SEPT. 19. 1917.

Patented Aug. 3, 1920.

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fzl/enz o r'x UNITED s'rA'rjas AIRPLANE CONSTRUCTION.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed September 19, 1917. Serial K0. 192,044.

Michigan; have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Airplane Construc-- tion, of which the following is a specification. f This invention relates to airplane construction, and more particularly to the provision of edging members therefor, and means for securing the ribs in place.

The object of my invention is to so improve the construction of airplane wings,

ailerons, rudders, and the like, that they will possess the maximum of efficiency, strength, llghtness, neatness, compactness, and simplicity, and may be constructed with the minimum expenditure of time and labor, and

with the greatest economy; further to provide a novel form of connection between the end of the cross ribs and the edging member;

further to provide a novel form ofleading edge member for airplane wings, which may be made quickly available, which will be of economical construction, and at the same time possess the maximum of strength, and be capable of being quickly applied; and such further objects, advantages and capa- 80 bilities as will later appear.

Leading edges have heretofore been constructed of spruce; air dried s ruce was considered the more desirable. owever, this i is now substantially unavailable, as the supply has been practically exhausted. Hence manufacturers have been obliged to resort to kiln dried spruce for use in leading edges in combination with the laminated veneer protector or covering. This arrangement 40 is very unsatisfactory, for the reason that. not only are thesematerials becoming ex-.

.ceedingly scarce but also the strength of the spruce is greatly decreased by drying in kilns'and the laminated veneer covering is expensive and requires ,conslderable tlme to Therefore, not only 1s properly prepare. the construction of airplanes greatly delayed, which is extremely objectionable, es-

\ pecially at this time,'but even when com- ,pleted'with this arrangement of spruce and veneer, the best results are not attained. By the use of my new leading edge, notonly is this great delay. of time entirely eliminated,

but also a structure is secured in which strength, efficiency, and economy are atthe PATENT OFFICE.

J. PLYM, or NILES, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR T0 KAWNEER ANUFAC'I'URING COMPANY, or NILES, MICHIGAN, AcoRPoImrIoN, or MICHIGAN.

Patented Aug. 3, 1920;

same time combined to a greater degree than L heretofore known.

, My; invention further resides in such combination, construction and arrangement of parts as illustrated in' the accompanying drawings,in which, while" I have shown a preferred embodiment of my invention, I desire the same to be understood as illus- *trative only and not as limiting the'scope thereof. I

In thedrawings:

F lgure 1 is a plan view of an airplane wing member showing a portion of the covering material-removed. v

Fig. '2 is an enl ar ed sectional viewtaken on the line 2-2 ofig. 1. Fig. 3 is a fragmentary perspective detail of the leading edge detached.

Fig. 4 is an enlar ed cross section taken on the line 4-4 of ig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a perspective'detail view of the joint between the rib and the edgingmem: ber.

Fig. 6 is ing the parts in separated position just prior by 1, and comprising cross ribs 2 longitudlnal beams 3 and 4, and the edging member 5 which forms the trailing edge thereof, and which edging member is securely fastened to the ribs 2 by, means of the strap or socket member 6. ocatedalong the front portion of the wing and covering the edge thereof is the leadingedge plate 7, and covering the entire surface of thewing is the suitable covering material 8. Located in the outer rear corner of the wing portions are the ailerons G suitable hinged to the wing by means of hinges b. I

The edging member 5 as shown in Figs. 4, 5, and 6 is formed fromv an elongated flat strip of'suitable light metal bent into a substantially U formation, the free edges 9 and edgin member, and with n which, as will be herea ter more fully explained, the end portions of the ribs 2 aresecurely fitted and fastened. As shown in Fig. 4, therear portion of the ribs 2 are tapered and are of such thickness at their free ends as to snugly a view similarto Fig. 5 but show- 10 of which are slightly inclined toward each fit within the edging member 5. To firmly given a configuration similar to that of the inside of the edge member 5, so that the same can be placed therein, and when the proper location is reached may be securely welded, brazed, soldered, or otherwise suitably secured fixedly in position. The two parallel plates 12 and 13 are formed with the downwardly extending edge members J6, the function of which is to form a socket within which the free end of the rib 2 may be inserted, after which the plates 12 and 13 will be securely fastened to the rib member by means of screws, rivets or the like, indi cated at 17 in Fig. 5. at a glance, this construction is such as to effectively hold the end of the rib 2 securely in position within the edging member 5, and to prevent any slipping or longitudinal movement thereof out of its proper position.

In Fig. 3 is illustrated in perspective detail my novel form of leading edge plate which is formed from a flat strip of metal or other suitable material by fianging each of its free edges at 18 and 19 and forming by crimping a series of ribs at suitable intervals on the underside thereof, and the metal or other suitable material in both portions of which ribs" is tightly pinched together so as to bring the front edges 21 to gether in tight relation. The closeness of the fit between these portions 21 is such as to prevent any cracks or openings whatever, and to present a continuously smooth surface without any elevations or depressions whatever therein, so as to provide a smooth upper surface which will offer the least possible resistance to the wind, at this edge of the airplane wing. This leading edge plate 7 is, as shown inFig. 2, suitably curved and secured to the nose webs and ribs of the airplane wing by means of screws or suitable fastenings, resulting in the presentation of a surface which will not cause any wind resistance. As shown in Fig. 2, the ribs 20\rest against the outer edges of the nose web 22, which are suitably notched to receive the ribs 20. The formation ofthese ribs 20 upon the under side of the leading edge plate gives to this plate the maximum of strength and rigidity and will effectively prevent deflection or distortion under excessive wind pressure,-for example, as that imposed when the airplane is traveling at a high speed.

The edging member 5 and its connection its will be apparent with the cross ribs, is equally well adapted for use in the construction of ailerons, rudders, elevating planes, and the like, and when so used may, if desired, be placed on all exposed edges thereof instead of being confined'to the rear edge only as in wing construction.

Attention is called to Fig. 6, where the strap or socket member 6 is shown as having a portion removed from its closed edge, thus forming'the opening B. When this strap member 6 is secured in position within the edging member 5, the edges 14 and 15 are spaced away from the closed edge of the edging member 5', as shown at 14 in Fig. 4, and the end of the rib passing between the portions 14 and 15, so that it abuts the inside of the closed edge of the edging member, is thus securely held from slipping sidewise.

Having now described my invention, I claim: I

1. In an airplane wing, in combination a trailing edge member, cross ribs secured in said member, and a leading edge member, said last mentionedmember consisting only of a curved metallic plate secured to the front portion of said ribs, and extending a substantially greater extent over the upper surface of the wing than over the lower.

2. In apparatus of the class described, a slotted trailing edging member, cross ribs having end portions adapted to fit within said edging member, and means to secure said end portions within said member, comprising socket members secured within said member and embracing said ribs.

3. In apparatus of the class described, a leading edge member comprising a curved plate adapted to besecurely fastened to the front ends of the cross ribs of an airplane wing and constituting with the cross ribs the sole support for the covering material at the front edge of an airplane wing, and formed to extend a substantial distance over the upper surface of an airplane wing, and

only a short distance over the lower surface thereof. e

4. In'a device of the class described, a leading edge plate having a plurality of laterally extending ribs on its under surface.

5. In a device of the class described, a metallic leading edge plate having a flange at each of its laterally extending edges and a plurality of ribs on its under surface.

6. In a device of the class described, a metallic leading edge plate having a flange at each of its laterally extending edges and a plurality of ribs on its under surface, said plate having such a curvature as to fit over the front edge of the airplane wing.

7. In a device of the class described, a metallic leading edge plate having a plurality of ribs on its under surface, each rib being formed by crimping the'metal on a straight line and then tightly forcing the sides of said crimped portion together to provide a smooth surface on the upper side.

8. In apparatus of the class described, a metallic leading edge plate having a plurality of ribs on its under surface, said plate being curved to fit the front edge of an airplane wing and adapted to be secured thereto with the said ribs resting against the nose webs of said wing.

9. In apparatus of the class described, a trailing edging member of substantially U- shaped formation, a cross rib having an end portion adapted to fit in said edging member, and means for securing said rib in said member, said means comprising a socket member secured in said edging member and embracing said rib.

10. In apparatus of the class described, an edging member of substantially U-shaped formation, a socket member secured in said member and having side plates extending out through the open edge thereof, and a rib having itsend portion secured in said edging member and between said plates, whereby said rib will be securely held against shifting.

11. In apparatus of the class described, an edging member of substantially U-shaped formation in cross section, a substantially U-shaped socket member secured in said edging member with its closed edge spaced from the closed edge of said edging member, and an opening inthe closed edge of said socket member.

12. In apparatus of the class described, an edging member of substantially U-shaped formation in cross section, a substantially an edging member of substantially U-shaped formation in cross section, a substantially U-shaped socket member secured in said edging member with its closed edge spaced from the closed edge of said edging member, an opening in the closed edge of said socket member, a rib having an end portion adapted to extend through said opening and said rib held between the sides of said socket member, and means for securing said socket member to the opposite sides of said rib.

14. In apparatus of the class described, an edging member substantially U-shaped in cross section, a U-shaped strap member having a portion removed from its closed side, said strap member being secured within the edging member with the remaining portions of its closed edge spaced from the interior of the closed edge of the edging member.

15. In apparatusof the class described, a trailing edging member substantially U- shaped in cross section, and a U-shaped strap member secured within said edging member and protruding therefrom.

In witness whereof, hereunto subscribe my name to this specification.

FRANCIS J. PLYM. 

